LAPPI

in full Lapin Lni, Swedish Lapplands Ln, also called Lapland, lni (province), northern Finland. It is bounded on the north by Norway, on the east by Russia, and on the west by Sweden. Its land area, extending mainly north of the Arctic Circle, comprises more than one-fourth of Finland's total area. The province is drained southwestward to the Gulf of Bothnia by the Kemi River and northward to the Barents Sea by the Paats River. Lappi is sparsely populated and is the most underdeveloped area in Finland. Forestry, waterpower, reindeer husbandry, and summer tourism provide the principal occupations. Finland's two largest national parks, Pallas-Ounastunturi and Lemmenjoki, are located in the province. Important towns include Tornio and Kemi, both seaports on the Gulf of Bothnia, and Rovaniemi, the administrative capital. Lappi was created in 1938 when the lni of Oulu was divided in two parts. Area 35,930 square miles (93,057 square km). Pop. (1995 est.) 202,325.